Floodgate latch



April 30, 1929. q o s m I 1,710,982

V FLOOD GATE LATCH Filed Sept. 17. 1924 INVENTOR.

Fax 0km ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

FREDERICK o. HOLSTEiN,

or nnnnnnfnnnnesxa FLoonGATE LATCH.

Application filed September The invention relates to flood gates, and has for its object to provide a device otthis character which is normally vertically disposed transversely of a stream, and disposed therein, and suspended in a manner whereby it will float on the water during the passing of a flood, and after the passing of a flood, will return by gravity to normal operative position.

A further object is to provide the lower end of the gate with a horizontally disposed hinged plate normally held downwardly at its free end by means of a coiled spring, and which plate is provided with a transversely disposed groove tor the reception of the detent roller carried by a member imbe'dded in the bed of the stream.

A further object is to suspend the gate from upwardly extending cables, the upper ends of which are connected to horizontally disposed sleeves, through which a supporting cable extends, and to which a bracingcable' is connected, thereby positively supporting the gate.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the con'lbinatiou and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed,

it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be" made within the scope otwhat isclaimed without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

In the drawing i Figure '1, is a vertical transverse sectional view through a stream bed,'showing the gate suspendedtherein.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the lower end of the gate, showing the hinged latching plate.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view oi one of the supporting sleeves.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the latching element carried by a member imbedded in the bottom of the stream. it

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 d eslgnates posts as opposite sides of the stream, which pots are braced by the wires 2, which connect the posts to the stakes 8. Extending across the stream bed it in a horizontalplane and connecting the posts 1 is a cable 5, on which cable are rotatably mounted, as well as slidably mounted, sleeves 6. Sleeves 6 have connected thereto as at 7 downwardly extending cables 8, which cables have their lower ends connected to the U-shaped gate 9' and, support said gate normally in a vertical posi- 17, 1924. Serial in. 738,150.

tion in the stream bed .livithgits portion horizontally disposed and-its wings 'ilextending upwardly and outwardly adjacent the sides of the strez nn bed, thereby substantially closing the stream bed, pre venting pas. cattle and the like.

Hingedly connected at 12 to the downward 1y extending U-shaped member 1?), carried I by the lower end oi. the gate'is ahorlzontally disposed relatively 'wide. latching plate 14,

which latching plate, adjacent its freeend 15 is rovided, on its underside, with a t tans;- verse y disposed groove 16*, which, groove, p,

when the gate is in normal vertical position receives the detent rollerl? carried by .the

U-shaped member 18, which extends upwardly from an anchoring log 19, andIprevents the gate from moving to a horizontal or floating position, under normal conditions; The detent plate 14, at its'free end 15. is provided with an upwardly extendingthreaded-rodQO,

which extends through the aperture 21 in the bar22, secured to the gate, and has surrounding the same, between the bar 22 and the latching plate let a coiled spring 24, which nor1nally forces the latching plate 14 downwardly for maintaining the same in" close yielding engageinent with the detent roller 17. Spring.

24 has suflicient tension for maintaining the gate in normal vertical position during the natural flow of watcrthrolilgh the stream, bed,

however in case of flood,:where the current is relatively strong andconsiderabledebris:is carried down the stream, which w ltcollect against a stationarygate and for'nrra -1'esist will unlatch and float, thereby allow ng,thefdebris ance. which would result invdiverting :the stream or breaking the gate, the, gate to float with the current and prevent damage to the gate. As soon as} the flood condition is over the gate 9 will return to normal vertical position by gravity, and the free end 15 of the latching plate will engage the 'detent roller 17, and theroller 17 will be received in the transverse groove '16 of the latching plate, and the gatewill be maintainedin nor-fimal position by the spring action To further braceand support the l vj i connects. the; eby positively a cable 25 is provided, wlific sleeves .6 and thepostsLQther supporting the device. 'n'iaking the latch ing plate 1 lrelat'ively wide, it is obvioust any variation and position'of the roller will; f. be talien care of orgvariation 1n the position of the gate in a vertical transverse plane, consequently a positive latching is insured at all times.

The invention having been set forth What is claimed as new and useful is A latching device forthe lower free end of a horizontally pivoted floor gate, said latching device comprising a horizontally disposed hinged latching plate having a transverse groove in its under side, a guide "rod carried by said latching plate, a coiled spring supporting said guide rod and iio i'inally forcing said plate downwardly, a de'tent roller with which said latching plate cooperates whereby it Will be disposed in the groove when the gate is in a vertical position, said dctent roller being fiiced beneath the gate, said hinged latching plate being relatively Wide in relation to the Width of the roller and having its groove extending across the same and forming means whereby upon sagging ol. the gate at either end, the latching device will not he rendered inoperative.

In testimony whereof I hereunto altix my si nature.

FREDERICK o. HOLSITEIN. 

